This 1800s Home Has Wall-to-Wall Christmas Cheer

Christmas has an extra-special feeling in an old house. “Every year when we decorate our Christmas tree, I think about how many families have celebrated in our home—there’s so much history!” says Jess Milburn. Her family bought their Oak Park, IL, 1893 Foursquare in 2015. Back then the 3,000-square-foot house had a bland peach-color exterior, a cramped layout, and rooms blanketed in carpet (including the kitchen). But Jess and husband James, who does commercial demolition for a living, were ready to work through all that in the spirit of creating a forever home.

They repainted the outside classic blue (Vermont Slate by Benjamin Moore), moved walls, refinished floors, and refurbished original molding, windows, and tile. Jess has filled it with cozy pieces, and she adds dashes of colorful holiday decor once Thanksgiving leftovers hit the fridge. “Nobody ever said Christmas has to stay downstairs,” she says. “We like to spread the joy around everywhere.”

Jess and James with Margot, 2; Libby, 5; and Bailey, 6. They recently welcomed baby Dylan to the family.

When the family moved in, the fireplace tile was painted white with dried drips everywhere. It took two days of stripping to unwrap the gift beneath: a deep green surround that’s practically made for hanging colorful stockings. The leather sofa from West Elm is a family favorite.

“It’s where James and I crash after our Christmas morning workout—running around picking up crumpled wrapping paper!” says Jess. The sparkly tree hides a surprise: a glass pickle ornament for the kids to find, a quirky tradition. The sputnik-style light fixture from Shades of Light looks festive all year long. The gray leather swivel chair is also from West Elm.

The 8-foot island, topped with cream-color quartzite, comes in handy in December. “We have a cookie exchange at the girls’ school, and we do all our mixing and decorating here,” says Jess.

The blue on the cabinets and the island (Newburyport Blue by Benjamin Moore) is almost the same as the house’s exterior: “I couldn’t get enough of it,” says Jess. Brass accents—door hardware from Signature Hardware and barstools from houzz.com—play up the richness of the color.

For classic-cool touches that nod to the home’s age, there’s a marble tile backsplash in a herringbone pattern, oil-rubbed-bronze globe pendants from houzz.com above the island, and lattice-print wallpaper from Anthropologie on the back of the built-in cabinet.